A Polynesian sequel will take Immortals Fenyx Rising out of the firing line of one of Nintendo’s greatest feats. There were plenty of concerns that the 2020 release shared visual similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This is by no means a negative as the latter is beautiful, but it put the originality of Ubisoft’s project into question. A Polynesian sequel could be the perfect way to uphold the expectations of fans while separating itself from such comparisons. On an environmental, artistic, and gameplay level the change in setting could be exactly what’s needed.

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Polyneasia Has Lots of Water

Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule wasn’t short of diverse landscapes, and there were plenty of water sources for Link to overcome. Lake Hylia, Necluda Sea, and the pond around Tarrey Town all do well to give Hyrule a sense of diversity, but the geography of Polynesia means water will have to be a far greater factor in Immortals Fenyx Rising’s follow-up. There are more than 1,000 islands dotted around the South Pacific, which will take more effort than a quick scamper up a cliff face or jaunt through Hyrule Field to get the better of.

On a gameplay level, Immortals Fenyx Rising’s open-ended design felt similar to Breath of the Wild, but far less engaging. Skipping across to different land masses in Polynesia would make the sequel feel more like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey than Breath of the Wild, with much of the map being submerged in the sea. Traversal will have to be different because of the lay of the land, and as Fenyx has more agency over the world than Link does in his game, it could play to their strengths.

Polynesian Culture is Nowhere in Breath of the Wild

There were plenty of mythologies that Immortals Fenyx Rising could have used, but Polynesia has a rich history of fascinating cultures that the follow-up could take advantage of. It’s an underrepresented culture in fiction, and while Moana did well to shine a light on the Oceania region, Immortals Fenyx Rising caters to an entirely different audience. Narratively, it could not just separate itself from other games set in mythology, but also bring new eyes to a culture that is as fascinating as it is diverse.

Breath of the Wild only exists within its own mythology, so its reach is limited and can’t lean on real-world culture in quite the same way. Immortals Fenyx Rising’s next entry has the luxury of learning from cultures that exist today, and can weave mythological concepts into its fictional story to maximize its narrative potential. It’s the same philosophy that Assassin’s Creed has used for years, and God of War taking to Norse myth like a duck to water has revitalized the franchise. Polynesia is perfect for Immortals Fenyx Rising, as it not only uses a tried-and-tested method that’s sure to bring new fans, but it’s also a stress-free way to avoid comparisons to one of Nintendo’s best games.

The sequel to Immortals Fenyx Rising is reportedly in development.

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